Police issue warning following rise in tool thefts from vans

Van drivers are being warned to secure their vehicles after a recent spate of tool thefts in Windsor and Maidenhead.

In August there were 26 reports of tools being stolen from vans across the borough - compared to 12 the previous month.

Detective Sergeant Dean Brown said: “I would urge motorists to be mindful that thieves will be on the lookout for vehicles which have not been left properly secured.

“It is important for motorists to lock their vehicles and double-check that they have done so.

“There are also some other simple steps you can take to make yourself less likely to be a victim, including simply not storing tools in vehicles overnight.

“It is also advisable to display notices that inform potential thieves that no tools are kept within.”

Police gave out the following advice:

Register your tools – register your tools on Immobilise, the national property register where you can record makes, models, serial numbers etc

Property marking – security mark your tools to deter criminals, either engrave or obviously mark the tools with a permanent marker or paint, with your postcode and house number. Also use an ultraviolet pen to covertly mark the tools or use a covert product such as Smartwater or Selecta DNA

The Mayor of Slough Cllr Arvind Dhaliwal meets family and friends. A family fun day is being held at IQRA Primary School in memory of Ayesha Farooq, 23. IQRA Primary School, Fernside, Wexham Rd, Slough